Golfing target including a slit along the boundary of a simulated green

ABSTRACT

A golf game simulating apparatus comprises a generally vertical frame having a sheetlike member attached thereto with at least a simulated golf green depicted on its forward face. The sheetlike member is slit along the lower and side boundaries of the simulated golf green so that a golf ball striking the simulated golf green passes through the slit and falls along the rear face of the sheet member. A golf ball guiding structure is provided to direct the balls forwardly of the sheet member on to a simulated putting green adjacent the vertical frame.

United States Patent Inventor Philip Romeo 29508 Bruce Drive, Willmvick, Ohio 44094 818,552

Apr. 23, 1969 Jan. 26, 1971 v Appl. No. Filed Patented GOLFING TARGET INCLUDING A SLlT ALONG THE BOUNDARY OF A SIMULATED GREEN 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 273/181, 273/176, 273/185, 273/102.4, 273/105 Int. Cl A63b 69/36, A63b 67/02, A63b 63/00 Field of Search 273/183, 184,185,176,181(a1l),102.4,103,105,182

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1916 Torrey 273/18l(F) 1,341,628 6/1920 Bourne 273/105X 1,719,240 7/1929 Scanlan 273/181(A)X 2,455,185 11/1948 May 273/105X 3,411,788 ll/1968 Blanding 273/184X 3,414,267 12/1968 Engle et a1 273/105X Primary Examiner-George J Marlo Att0rney-Watts, Hoffmann, Fisher & Heinke ABSTRACT: A golf game simulating apparatus comprises a generally vertical frame having a sheetlike member attached thereto with at least a simulated golf green depicted on its forward face. The sheetlike member is slit along the lower and side boundaries of the simulated golf green so that a golf ball striking the simulated golf green passes through the slit and v 7 falls along the rear face of the sheet member.

A golf ball guiding structure is provided to direct the balls forwardly of the sheet member on to a simulated putting green adjacent the vertical frame.

PATENT-EBJANZSIHYI 3558.140

SHEET 1 0F 2 F 2 I INVENTOR.

PHIL/P POMEO BY Wm, way

ATTORNEYS.

GOLFING TARGET INCLUDING A SLIT ALONG THE BOUNDARY OF A SIMULATED GREEN BAC KGROU ND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to apparatus for simulating a golf game and more particularly relates to an apparatus for simulating actual play when pitching and putting.

2. Description of the Prior Art Simulated golf game apparatuses have been proposed in the past; however many of these have not been constructed to realistically simulate actual play. For example, some apparatuses of the type referred to have provided target areas which are either too small or do not adequately simulate the effects of inaccurate golf shots. In some proposals target areas have been such as to penalize golf shots which are not on an accurate line with a hole but do not penalize such shots when they are too long or too short. Other apparatuses have been constructed to penalize shots which are not the proper distance whether poorly directed or not.

Some previously proposed golf game apparatuses have provided for putting as well as other golf shots but these have not provided putts which reasonably relate to the preceding golf shots. For example, some golf simulating apparatuses have been constructed so that grossly inaccurate shots may end up on a putting green while relatively accurate shots may not do so. This is particularly so where multiple targets are used, each target corresponding to a particular type ofclub.

Moreover, many prior art devices have not been suitable for indoor and outdoor use, have not been of rugged yet simple construction and have been relatively expensive to purchase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a new and improved golf game simulating apparatus which is particularly suited for pitching, chipping and putting by closely simulating the actual game of golf when such shots are made. The new golf simulating apparatus includes a golf course simulating assembly to which golf balls are chipped or pitched, and a putting surface to which accurately pitched or chipped balls are directed for putting out.

The golf course simulating assembly comprises a vertical frame having a sheetlike member attached to the frame which bears the image of at least one golf green. The side and lower boundaries of the golf green image are defined by a slit in the sheet material. Thus the golf green image is located on a flap of the material.

The sheet is tautly disposed on the frame and resilient connectors extend between the sides of the sheet and the frame. When a golf ball hits the sheet at a location remote from a golf green image, the golf ball resiliently bounces off the sheet and away from the apparatus. The flapof material on which the golf green is depicted is not in tension and when a golf shot hits this area of the sheet the ball is nonresiliently stopped by the sheet material and drops through the slit.

Balls which drop through the slit are guided onto a putting surface defined by the golf green simulating assembly. This surface extends forwardly of the vertical frame. A ball guiding structure is provided to direct the successful shots onto the putting surface. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the putting surface is covered by a carpet, which simulates turf, and a support structure for the carpet. A plurality of cups are provided in the support structure to vary the character of the putts from time to time. Cups not in use are plugged.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved golf game simulating apparatus particularly suited to pitching, chipping and putting, which is of simple, rugged construction and is relatively inexpensively purchased.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description thereof made with reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view ofa typical pitch type golf shot being made on an apparatus constructed in ac cordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention and showing constructional features of the apparatus in somewhat greater detail than shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view seen from the plane indicated by the line 44 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A golf game simulating apparatus 10 is shown in FIGS. 1- 4. The apparatus 10 includes a golf course simulating as sembly A, forming a target for golf balls which are chipped or pitched, and a golf green simulating assembly B for putting after a golf ball has been accurately chipped or pitched. The apparatus 10 may be used indoors or outdoors and as shown in FIG. 1 the player may position himself well away from the apparatus when chipping.

The assembly A includes a frame 11 which is preferably constructed of tubular sheet metal parts. The frame 11 includes supporting feet 12a, 12b at lateral sides of the frame, uprights 13a, 13b extending from the feet 12 and crossarms 14, 15 which extend between the uprights to provide lateral support. Corner braces 16, 17 are connected between the uprights 13a, 13b and the feet 12.

A sheet 20 of canvas or similar material is tautly attached to the frame and the sheet 20 bears an image of a golf course on its forward face 20a. The sheet 20 is disposed vertically between the crossarms 14, 15. The sheet may be attached to the arms in any suitable way such as by stretching or by an adhesive substance. The lateral sides of the sheet 20 are connected to the uprights 13a, 1312, respectively, by resilient connectors 26 which extend through eyelets 27 defined by the sheet 20 and around the associated uprights. The connectors 26 provide for lateral tension of the sheet 20 across the framework and may be in the form of plastic straps which are resiliently stretchable.

The image of a golf course is depicted on the forward face 20a of the sheet 20. The image includes areas 32, 33 which represent golf greens as viewed in perspective from a distance. The lowermost boundaries and sides of the greens 32, 33 are defined by slits 34, 35, respectively formed in the sheet 20. These slits are generally semicircular or U-shaped and hence the vertically lowermost parts of the golf green areas on the sheet form flaps 32a, 33a.

The sheet 20 it tautly disposed between the crossarms 14, 15 and the resilient connections between the sides of sheet 20 and the uprights 13a, 13b provide for horizontal tension in the sheet. Hence, the sheet is taut at all locations except for the flaps 32a, 33a and the sheet portions immediately above the flaps depicting the remainder of the golf greens. Golf balls hitting the sheet 20 remote from the golf greens 32, 33 bounce off the sheet 20 and to locations well forward of the front face 20a due to resilient deflection of the sheet. If a golf ball strikes one of the golf green images 32, 33, the nonresilient sheet of the material is deflected rearwardly from the plane of the sheet 20 and nonresiliently stops the motion of the golf ball. This causes the ball to drop vertically through the slit.

As is best seen in FIG. 4 a canvas backup strip 40 is attached to the rear face 20b of the sheet to insure vertical dropping of the golf balls along the rear face 20b of the sheet. The backup strip is stitched onto the sheet 20 at its upper side and hangs loosely along the rear face over the flaps.

Balls which drop along the rear face 20b of the sheet are guided onto the simulated putting green assembly B by a troughlike ball guiding structure 41. The guide structure 41 is connected to the corner braces 16, 17 at its ends and extends continuously along the rear face of the sheet 20. The structure 41 includes a slanting rear wall 42 and a substantially horizontally disposed lip 43. Generally triangular end panels 44 are provided at each end of the ball guiding structure to prevent balls from hitting the guide and bouncing out of the ends. The end panels carry a suitable fastener for connection to the corner braces l6, 17.

The guide structure 41 can be made of any suitable material. such as sheet metal or plastic. and while the illustrated and preferred guide does not direct golf balls toward any particular location on the simulated putting green assembly B it is apparent that such a guide could be modified to do so.

The simulated putting green assembly B includes framelike support structure 50 which defines a surface raised above the ground or floor. The surface 51 is covered by an artificial turf-type carpet 53 having a short nap which corresponds generally to the consistency of grass on a putting green. in the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the surface 51 and car pet 53 define two simulated cups into which the balls can be putted. Preferably a plug 80 is provided so that the cup which is not in use may be covered.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 the support structure 50 ineludes wooden stringers 60 which extend transversely to the sheet and the surface 51 is defined by a sheet of plywood attached to the stringers. The forward ends of the stringers are curved to provide a sloping forward boundary on the simulated putting green.

it can now be seen that a new and improved golf game simulating apparatus for pitching, chipping and putting has been provided which is simple in construction. relatively easily manufactured and closely simulates actual play and that the object set forth above and others have been accomplished.

I claim:

l. A golf game simulating apparatus comprising:

a7 a generally vertically extending frame;

b. a sheetlike member attached to said frame and defining a forward face and a rear face;

c. at least one simulated golf green depicted upon the for ward face of said member;

d. at least one slit in said member extending approximately along the lower and side boundaries of said simulated golf green to define a flap in said sheet member;

a golf ball guiding structure supported by said frame along the rear face of said sheet member for receiving balls passing through said slit; and

f. a simulated putting surface extending horizontally from said frame and onto which balls are directed by said guid ing structure. said simulated surface defining at least a cup forming cavity.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim I wherein said sheet member has a lower marginal boundary terminating above said simulated putting surface and said ball guiding structure is supported adjacent said boundary to direct golf balls between said putting surface and said boundary.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further including resilient connectors between said frame and said sheet member for resiliently maintaining said sheet in position. said connectors resiliently deflecting when said sheet member is struck by a golf ball remote from said flap to rebound a golf ball away from said sheet member.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said simulated putting surface includes a carpet providing a turflike quality to said surface.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guiding structure is a troughlike member connected to said frame and extending along said rear face.

6. A golf game simulating apparatus comprising:

a. a vertical framework;

b. a sheet of fabric attached to said framework to define a forward face and rearward face;

. resilient connectors between said sheet and at least a part of said framework extending along an edge of said sheet to maintain said sheet in tension on said framework;

d. a simulated golf green on said sheet having a boundary defined in art by a slit in said sheet; and

e. a sheet ol material defining a backup strip attached to said rearward face for nonresiliently stopping motion of golf balls striking the simulated golf green whereby said balls drop substantially vertically through said slit.

7. A golf game simulating apparatus as claimed in claim 6 and further including a ball guiding structure supported by said framework below said slit said guiding structure comprising a rear wall portion slanting downwardly toward said framework and a horizontal lip. said rear wall portion and said lip guiding falling golf balls under said sheet to a location beyond said forward face.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 and further including a putting green simulating assembly comprising a support framework, a horizontal support surface and a carpet supported on said surface said carpet disposed beyond said forward face and said guiding structure supported on said framework for directing golf balls onto said carpet.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said resilient connectors extend between a frame member of said framework and eyelets defined in said sheet. 

1. A golf game simulating apparatus comprising: a. a generally vertically extending frame; b. a sheetlike member attached to said frame and defining a forward face and a rear face; c. at least one simulated golf green depicted upon the forward face of said member; d. at least one slit in said member extending approximately along the lower and side boundaries of said simulated golf green to define a flap in said sheet member; e. a golf ball guiding structure supported by said frame along the rear face of said sheet member for receiving balls passing through said slit; and f. a simulated putting surface extending horizontally from said frame and onto which balls are directed by said guiding structure, said simulated surface defining at least a cup forming cavity.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sheet member has a lower marginal boundary termiNating above said simulated putting surface and said ball guiding structure is supported adjacent said boundary to direct golf balls between said putting surface and said boundary.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further including resilient connectors between said frame and said sheet member for resiliently maintaining said sheet in position, said connectors resiliently deflecting when said sheet member is struck by a golf ball remote from said flap to rebound a golf ball away from said sheet member.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said simulated putting surface includes a carpet providing a turflike quality to said surface.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guiding structure is a troughlike member connected to said frame and extending along said rear face.
 6. A golf game simulating apparatus comprising: a. a vertical framework; b. a sheet of fabric attached to said framework to define a forward face and rearward face; c. resilient connectors between said sheet and at least a part of said framework extending along an edge of said sheet to maintain said sheet in tension on said framework; d. a simulated golf green on said sheet having a boundary defined in part by a slit in said sheet; and e. a sheet of material defining a backup strip attached to said rearward face for nonresiliently stopping motion of golf balls striking the simulated golf green whereby said balls drop substantially vertically through said slit.
 7. A golf game simulating apparatus as claimed in claim 6 and further including a ball guiding structure supported by said framework below said slit, said guiding structure comprising a rear wall portion slanting downwardly toward said framework and a horizontal lip, said rear wall portion and said lip guiding falling golf balls under said sheet to a location beyond said forward face.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 and further including a putting green simulating assembly comprising a support framework, a horizontal support surface and a carpet supported on said surface, said carpet disposed beyond said forward face and said guiding structure supported on said framework for directing golf balls onto said carpet.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said resilient connectors extend between a frame member of said framework and eyelets defined in said sheet. 